Marquette University
DePaul
WBB to Open Homestand Wednesday vs DePaul
1/10/2022 4:23:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Golden Eagles set for 79th all-time meeting with Blue Demons
Game Notes (PDF)
MILWAUKEE — The Marquette women's basketball team (9-4, 2-2 BIG EAST) returns home for three BIG EAST contests this week at the Al McGuire Center, beginning with a contest against DePaul (12-3, 4-0 BIG EAST) on Wednesday, Jan. 12. The game is set to tip at 7 p.m. (CT), and will be broadcast by BEDN on FloHoops with Bob Brainerd (play-by-play) and Meghan McKeown (analyst) on the call. Live stats are available at GoMarquette.com.
The Golden Eagles are off to a 9-4 start to the 2021-22 campaign, including a 2-2 record in conference play. After having a Dec. 29 game at UConn canceled due to COVID health and safety precautions, MU played its first game in 16 days on Jan. 7 at Creighton, a 62-45 loss.
DePaul enters the contest atop the league standings with a 12-3 overall record and a perfect 4-0 mark against BIG EAST opponents. The Blue Demons have won eight of their last nine contests, most recently posting a 98-77 road win over Providence on Jan. 7. DePaul boasts the nation's top scoring offense, averaging 92.1 points per game, while Marquette has the league's top scoring defense, holding opponents to 55.1 points per game.
The Blue Demons lead the all-time series against Marquette, 48-30, though MU is 21-12 all-time against DePaul in Milwaukee. The teams met up twice last season, each team winning on the other's home court. This is MU's most-played series in program history.
DePaul is led in scoring and rebounding this season by freshman forward Aneesah Morrow, who is averaging a double-double of 18.6 points and 11.9 rebounds per game. The Blue Demons are coached by Doug Bruno, in his 34th season with the program.
SCOUTING THE BLUE DEMONS
• DePaul enters the contest with a 12-3 overall record including a league-best 4-0 mark in BIG EAST matchups.
• The Blue Demons have won eight of their past nine, with conference wins over Butler, Xavier, St. John's and Providence.
• In 2020-21, DePaul finished the season 14-10 with an 11-5 record in league play. It was picked second in this year's BIG EAST preseason poll.
• The Blue Demons are 3-1 on the road this season.
• Freshman guard Aneesah Morrow has been the team's top scorer and rebounder this season, averaging a double-double of 18.6 points and 11.9 boards per contests. She also leads the squad with 30 blocks and 42 steals.
• DePaul boasts the nation's top scoring offense, averaging 92.1 points per game. It has scored 100+ points seven times this year, and is averaging 102.3 points against league opponents.
ALL-TIME SERIES VS DEPAUL
• Wednesday's game will mark the 79th all-time meeting between Marquette and DePaul, a series which spans back to 1978.
• This is MU's most-played rivalry.
• The Blue Demons lead the all-time series, 48-30.
• The teams faced off twice last season, each team earning a win on the other's home court.
STARTING FIVE
• The Golden Eagles are 29-10 in conference action under Coach Duffy.
• Coach Duffy is off to the best coaching start through three seasons of any coach in program history. She boasts a 52-19 overall mark (.740) at Marquette.
• The Golden Eagles are 42-1 under Coach Duffy when leading at halftime and 29-3 when they turn the ball over fewer times than their opponent.
• MU is 28-3 when scoring more than 70 points under Coach Duffy and 35-4 when shooting more free throws than its opponent.
• In the 71 games of the Coach Duffy era, the Golden Eagles have out-rebounded their opponent in 60 of those games (47-14 record).
GOLDEN EAGLE DEFENSE
• Along with rebounding and strong fundamentals, defense has become one of Marquette's calling cards under Coach Duffy.
• The Golden Eagles are holding opponents to a league-best 55.1 points per game this season, while keeping five opponents under 50 points.
• Additionally, Marquette is second in the BIG EAST in turnovers forced (17.2), steals (8.2) and 3-point field goal defense (25.0%), and third in field goal defense (37.1%)
HOME COURT ADVANTAGE
• MU has established one of the best home court advantages in the country, posting a 68-11 record inside the Al McGuire Center since the 2016-17 season.
• The Golden Eagles are a perfect 7-0 at home this year, winning each game by double-figures and outscoring opponents 535-340.
• Marquette has only trailed for 5:08 of 280 minutes played at home this season.
